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• Education

Quality school education is vital for individual potential and a healthy society. All children should have access to an education that is responsive to their needs as well as upholding high academic standards. CIS’s research focus is on policies that improve the quality of teaching and student outcomes.

Why Learning is a Hard Haul Without a Dad
Alison RichJuly 15, 2000The Age

Research over the last few years has shown that, on average, children from sole parent...

Trailing the Class: Sole Parent Families and Educational Disadvantage
Alison RichJune 26, 2000IA11

The association between family structure and educational performance has been the focus of much research...

Boy Troubles: Understanding Rising Suicide, Rising Crime and Educational Failure
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJune 14, 2000PM46

Australian boys are at greater risk of doing badly at school, participating in juvenile crime,...

Schools Need to be Truly ‘Public’
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMay 7, 2000

Discussions about the future of education in Australia tend to be constricted by a narrow...

Parents and their children’s education
Alison RichMay 1, 2000PM48

Foreword At a time when many parents are concerned about the quality of their children’s...

Beyond the Classroom: How Parents Influence Their Children’s Education
Alison RichMarch 15, 2000

In a society that demands a high level of education and skill for a successful...

State of the Nation: An Agenda for Change 2004
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMay 5, 2004SP06

This book is now in its fourth edition. It offers independent views on Australia’s progress...

Valuing Education: A Response to the Australia Institute Report ‘Buying an Education’
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJanuary 21, 2004IA43

The Australia Institute recently published a report called Buying An Education: Where Are The Returns...

Boys’ Education – Research & Rhetoric
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJanuary 1, 2004OP89

There is significant evidence that boys have been experiencing educational disadvantage. In this paper, Jennifer...

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Dr Nelson Mixes Price Flexibility and Rigid Quotas
Andrew NortonJune 18, 2003IA37

Commonwealth Education Minister Brendan Nelson’s higher education reform package is a radical evolution in policy,...

Student Debt: A HECS on Fertility?
Andrew NortonApril 2, 2003IA32

Opponents of university fees are tapping into concern about declining fertility levels by arguing that...

Reflections on Class Size and Teacher Quality
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMarch 21, 2003IA29a

Teachers all over the world have long called for lower class sizes, and New Zealand...

We’ve spent the money, now what about the results?
Blaise JosephFebruary 23, 2026CANBERRA TIMES
We have a great window of opportunity now to finally follow through on education reforms...
Education has become a system designed to issue credentials rather than create knowledge
Steven SchwartzFebruary 10, 2026THE AUSTRALIAN
When a society forgets the difference between learning and performance, between a mind and a...
Science of learning
How revamping education will boost the Australian economy
Trisha JhaJanuary 24, 2026CANBERRA TIMES
If Australia wants productivity growth, it needs to start in the classroom....
Australia’s education system is failing students despite $100bn spending
Fiona MuellerDecember 27, 2025THE AUSTRALIAN
Taxpayers know all too well that massive increases in education funding (approaching $100 billion a...
School child reading book
Turning up a first step to success
Trisha JhaDecember 4, 2025DAILY TELEGRAPH
The best that can be said about the latest national attendance data is that things...
Give teachers clarity: Maths curriculum should build the staircase, not set the high jump
Kelly NorrisOctober 28, 2025EDUCATIONHQ

The national review of the F–2 maths curriculum is a welcome chance to put the...

We need a new education remedy: Charter Schools
August 31, 2015
Dr Jennifer Buckingham on ‘School Funding on a Budget’
April 29, 2014
Paul Oslington on Religion and Universities
March 12, 2014
Why Jaydon Can’t Read: Q&A – Forum 3/3
January 20, 2014
Why Jaydon Can’t Read: Justine Ferrari & Tom Alegounarias – Forum 2/3
January 20, 2014
Why Jaydon Can’t Read: Fixing Literacy – Forum 1/3
January 20, 2014
Submission to Senate Education and Employment References Committee
Michael Wu October 22, 2025CIS

Despite good intentions, Australia’s Early Childhood Education and Care system has expanded well beyond its...

Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce
Trisha JhaSeptember 18, 2025

Submission at a glance 1. Achieving written curriculum quality is a necessary step for long-term...

Submission to the Independent Review of Education in Tasmania
Trisha JhaOctober 4, 2024

Introduction The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is a leading independent public policy think tank...

Submission to the Inquiry into Literacy and Numeracy in ACT Public Schools
Trisha JhaFebruary 27, 2024

This submission does not directly seek to answer the 20 questions posted in the Consultation...

Submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry into the State Education System in Victoria
Trisha JhaOctober 4, 2023

Introduction The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is a leading independent public policy think...

Submission to the NSW Curriculum Review Interim Report Consultations
Fiona MuellerDecember 1, 2019

The NSW Government commissioned a review of the state’s curriculum in September, 2018, to be...

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